Your Universal Credit payment will be worked out using your combined earnings or any applicable Minimum Income Floor, whichever is higher.

If you’re newly self-employed

If you’re within 12 months of starting your business, you may be eligible for a start up period of up to 12 months.

During your start up period your monthly earnings are used to work out your Universal Credit and the Minimum Income Floor doesn’t apply. You’ll also receive support from a work coach who’s trained to work with the self-employed.

You’ll need to attend quarterly appointments with your Work Coach, providing evidence to show that you’re still gainfully self-employed and actively taking steps to build your business.

You’re only entitled to one start up period, unless it has been more than 5 years since your previous one, and you’ve started a completely different type of self-employment.

Reporting changes in your circumstances

You’ll need to report any change in circumstances, for example if you:

close your business

start a different kind of business

take a permanent job

are no longer able to work

Depending on the change, your gainful self-employment may need to be reassessed.